CAMELOT AND US

And I paraphrase -
      "and once there was a spot..... for happily ever aftering....for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot."

     Last night I saw a performance of Camelot at the Kravis Center. Again, the voices, particularly the males, did not come to Broadway standard, though Guinivere's was wonderful. The music was excellent; I love the songs from Camelot and recommend it if you have the chance.
     But what is more important is the nostalgia - and the thoughts of today - that this show induced. I remember when I was in sixth grade and I had to represent JFK in primary debates in the classroom, my first experience with politics. I still have all the information sent to me by the campaign office of JFK, schlepped it with me through all my moves. Why? Because, whether we look back with a jaundiced eye or not, the truth is that JFK brought out the best in the young. He stood for idealism, for hope, for the future, for our own version of a modern day round table. We were asked to give of ourselves to and for others, to honor the virtues of justice, charity, caring, honor, etc - all the virtues that Mordred made fun of and all that King Arthur stood for.
     So for one brief shining moment we had Camelot. and then the world fell apart with the loss of JFK and RFK who had given us one more last brief shining moment of hope for a new Camelot, and then the war in Vietnam tore us apart and we have never returned to the way we were. We bite and snap at each other. One party threatens to block any progress in government and the other party flounders around in a quandary, wondering just what to do. We have another president in a series of presidents, many of whom failed in their responsibility towards us, the residents of the USA, a man who epitomizes the Peter Principle, who has reached beyond his scope and ability.
     So where is the us in this? Simple. We too once were a Camelot until fighting nearly split the Village and thus UCO was formed to help unite, to help negotiate and life resumed. But unfortunately, many of the virtues necessary in a good leader, in a member of Camelot, were missing in many of the ":leaders" of the Village. Presidents of associations took, even demanded, money from their residents and just yesterday I had a conversation where I heard that one association has to leave money in a laundry room, in a special box just for the president of the association, or else face the consequences. Really. This is medieval and why does it still exist and better yet, why is it allowed to exist?
     This rot that pervades some areas of the Village comes from the top. Our "top leaders" are disconnected with the daily life of the Village. They are never seen out and about, talking with people, looking around, hearing the issues that most concern them. They are stuffed into their offices, planning away, planning their own monuments to their lives here, their petty "legacies" and is there bad rot here? Oh, yes indeed. I will not name names but there are many who raise the question about who benefits from these sadly, tragically, incompetent contracts that we sign. Who gives us contracts for elevators that are not fixed immediately in a senior community, a contract which subjected residents to humiliating and frightening experiences even though the firemen and EMTs were as wonderful as ever.
     Why are we continuously playing with budget numbers till they say what David Israel and Ed Black want them to say? Why are we playing around with projects that have no place right now in our Village? Why do we worry about shifting bocce and petanque courts again and again, wasting money as if it were water - and we know that even water is becoming scarce in many areas! Why are we insisting on millions of dollars in debt to be added to our burden when there is no need for it, when the momentum against this is building up. Why is the president of UCO using UCO facilities to make videos, oh so dramatic, to plead for his project, his pet project that will form his "legacy"- a multi million dollar debt and an incompetent system that will remain here long after he is gone.
     People, where is our Camelot? Where is our shining moment? Where are our virtues of civility, justice and openness? Where is our welcome of other thoughts, knowing that a variety of thinking leads to new and improved ways of life? Where is our Camelot? It is in your hands, that is where it is. Save our future. Vote NO NO NO at Friday's Delegate Assembly.
     Wi Fi is here in the Village. You can install a financially responsible system in your association or pay a huge and growing increase in order to pay for our own Mordred's system. It will not be only an additional $2 a month. Trust me on that! Or just keep your Wi Fi as is- with it being your own private decision.
     And remember what is coming next - the sneaky, nasty, dictatorial by laws and Articles of Incorporation that are being done oh so privately by Broomhilda, David Israel, and input by our infamous non elected "official" Ed Black, he of the "let's move funds around to pay for what we want and never mind the legality or the justice or the rightness of it."
     Oh, and don't forget - the threat to use armed force on those who dare to disagree with the Great Leader. Well, I disagree with you, David Israel. You are too cowardly to debate in open so why not step down from the dais and speak as a resident and stop violating Robert's Rules. Stop being the bully in the schoolyard. Or are you going to try to shut me and all other speakers down in your usual dictatorial manner?
     Where is Camelot? In our own hands to keep or to lose.